Research
Adherence
Stretching does not meaningfully reduce the risk of sports injuries.
Stop relying on static stretching to prevent injuries. It doesn't work. If you want to stay injury-free, focus on proper technique, gradual progression, and sport-specific dynamic warm-ups instead of static stretching routines.
WeakRefutesHIGH confidence
the combined results of these analyses indicate that stretching does not meaningfully reduce the risk of injury [29–31].
Why this rating
The claim is based on multiple meta-analyses, which represent the highest level of evidence synthesis.
Source
Personalized, Evidence-Informed Training Plans and Exercise Prescriptions for Performance, Fitness and Health
Henning Wackerhage et al. · Sports Medicine · 2021
DOI 10.1007/s40279-021-01495-w
narrative_reviewCited 78×
Read the paper DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10
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- Evidence-informed training plans are pragmatic mixes of evidence and subjective experience, as it is impossible to base complex long-term plans fully on scientific evidence.Limited
- Training adaptations (e.g., VO2max, strength) vary greatly between individuals, necessitating monitoring and re-planning for non-responders.Weak
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This is one finding among thousands. Every one is graded and traced to its source, so you can see what the evidence actually supports. Browse the research →